The second series of a TG4 series which looks at the origin of GAA trophies takes host Gráinne McElwain to the home of hurling – Semple Stadium in Thurles.
After a successful first series, Scéalta na gCorn (Silverware Stories) is back on the road again, travelling across Ireland to visit clubs and county grounds and learn the lesser-known stories behind our nation’s Gaelic games trophies.
Wednesday night’s first episode sees Gráinne visit Thurles to hear about silverware named after two Irish patriots - Dan Breen and Seán Treacy.
She also visits the hidden gem that is Lár an Páirce Museum to see some of its treasures, as well as learn about an unusually shaped trophy resembling one of the county’s most famous landmarks - The Cross of Cashel Trophy.
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The programme also looks at the tragic loss of a young Tipperary hurler whose name lives on in the form of the Dillon Quirke Cup.
During the series, viewers will find out how some cups are named after Irish revolutionary patriots such as Thomas Ashe and Joe McGarrity, how other trophies are named after sporting heroes such as Nickey Rackard and Dermot Earley and how even more are named after grassroots members, their memory perpetuated through the trophies and cups in their honour.
Episode two travels to south to Kerry, a county that has its fair share of silverware. Viewers will hear about the cup that every footballer in the county wants to get their hands on – The Bishop Moynihan Cup and learn of a much-loved camogie cup named after Veronica Stack.
Gráinne pays a visit to the county’s home ground to hear about footballing hero Con Brosnan before travelling to Ventry and the Páidí Ó Sé tournament to discover a cup named after a Roscommon man, Dermot Earley.
There will be Ulster interest in trips to Down, Tyrone and Cavan.
Grainne will visit Páirc Esler in Newry, where she finds out about a much-loved priest who has a Cumann na mBunscol competition cup named in his honour and about the All-Ireland Minor Camogie cup named after a former president of the Association.
We will also learn the fascinating story of hurling silverware celebrating the bold Betsy Gray and Gráinne takes time to meet Kevin Mussen, the first man to carry the Sam Maguire cup across the border.
Episode five travels to Tyrone to hear the story behind the football cup named after the Earl of Tyrone, Hugh the Great O’Neill and the cup every university footballer wants to get their hands on, the Sigerson Cup.
There is also a visit to the parish of Eglish where we learn more about the prize presented for the International Rules Series – The Cormac McAnallen Cup, and a local tournament played in honour of one of the county’s most decorated camogie players, Anne Jordan.
The Scéalta na gCorn series finishes in the Breffni county, Cavan, as Gráinne finds out about the multitude of cups the county has to offer.
She hears how the most sought-after football trophy in the province – the Anglo-Celt Cup – got its name and finds out about a tournament played in memory of footballing hero John Joe O’Reilly.
Gráinne also discovers the county’s newest cup for the Senior Hurling Championship – The Tom Walsh Cup and learns of the silverware named after younger players such as the Michelle Keating Cup and the Amy Sheridan Cup.
Scéalta na gCorn Sraith a Dó (Silverware Stories series two) airs on TG4 at 8.30pm on Wednesday June 5
